If you go

Oak Creek  The Oak Creek Town Board tonight could increase the rates of sewer, water and trash service to keep pace with rising costs, despite the trustees' reservations about raising rates.

The three resolutions before the board would increase water and sewer rates by 10 percent and trash service rate by 50 cents per month.

"Most of it was driven by the budget discussions," Trustee Gerry Greenwood said Wednesday. "Believe me, nobody wants to have any cost increases."

If passed, the rates will take effect Jan. 1, raising residential water rates from $41 per month to $45.10 and sewer rates from $42 to $46.20. The trash service would increase from $20 to $20.50 to account for potential raised costs.

"It's keeping us in the black," Town Clerk Karen Halterman said. "That's what we figured that we have to increase so our revenues cover our expenditures."

The 10 percent cost increase would apply to all levels of service, including businesses.

The Town Board also will consider final approval of the town's comprehensive plan and land use code, with a recommendation from the planning commission.

Greenwood said the comprehensive plan would set "the direction that the town's going in."

"We have an election next April, and this is one of the things we don't want to leave undone," he said.

The trustees will also continue to discuss possible annexation and development of 1.97 acres at the top of Grandview Avenue by Pennsylvania company Allegheny Gypsum.

The company wants to build two triplex units on the top of the hill in an undeveloped lot. Company President Sean Colgan has said the townhomes would not be built until the housing market improves.

"However, we will need all the approval in place so that we can begin construction immediately when the market recovers," he wrote in July.